Starting work before daybreak and finishing after 10pm – that’s the life of a tax official on deadline day as scores of last-minute taxpayers rush to file their returns without incurring penalties.
Wednesday October 31 marked the close of the 2018 tax season for non-provisional taxpayers.
A total of 235‚518 returns were filed on the deadline day‚ the South African Revenue Service (Sars) revealed in a statement.
Of these‚ 67% were submitted via e-filing. However‚ 79‚692 taxpayers had to be assisted in filing their paperwork in branches on October 31‚ placing enormous pressure on staff.
“Branches experienced exceptionally high volumes at branches‚ with the Alberton branch issuing its first taxpayer a ticket at 4:50am‚” said Sars. “The Bellville and Richards Bay branches opened their doors before 6am. A total of 29 other branches and one mobile tax unit started serving taxpayers before 7am.”